Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H1727 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1635 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1727
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Orlando Ramos and Carlos González
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act establishing a commission to study judicial accountability in the Commonwealth.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Orlando Ramos9th Hampden1/18/2023Carlos González10th Hampden1/18/2023 1 of 3
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1635 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1727
18	18	By Representatives Ramos of Springfield and González of Springfield, a petition (accompanied
19	19	by bill, House, No. 1727) of Orlando Ramos and Carlos González for legislation to establish a
20	20	commission to study judicial accountability in the Commonwealth. The Judiciary.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE HOUSE, NO. 1843 OF 2021-2022.]
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
26	26	(2023-2024)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act establishing a commission to study judicial accountability in the Commonwealth.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary there shall be a
32	32	2special commission on judicial accountability to study the nomination, selection, appointment,
33	33	3and oversight of judges in the Commonwealth and to develop recommendations to improve
34	34	4accountability including reappointment standards.
35	35	5 The special commission shall consist of: three members to be appointed by the governor;
36	36	6two members of the House of Representatives, one of whom to be appointed by the Speaker of
37	37	7the House of Representatives, and the other to be appointed by the minority leader; two members
38	38	8of the Senate, one of whom to be appointed by the President of the Senate, and the other to be
39	39	9appointed by the minority leader; the president of the Massachusetts Bar Association or their
40	40	10designee; the president of the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts or their 2 of 3
41	41	11designee; president of the Barnstable Bar Association or their designee; the president of the
42	42	12Berkshire County Bar Association or their designee; president of the Boston Bar Association or
43	43	13their designee; president of the Bristol County Bar Association or their designee; president of the
44	44	14Essex County Bar Association or their designee; the president of the Franklin County Bar
45	45	15Association or their designee; president of the Hampden County Bar Association or their
46	46	16designee; president of the Hampshire County Bar Association or their designee; president of the
47	47	17League of Women Voters or their designee; president of the Massachusetts Association of
48	48	18Hispanic Attorneys or their designee; president of the Massachusetts Association of Women
49	49	19Lawyers or their designee; president of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association or their
50	50	20designee; president of the Massachusetts Judges Conference or their designee; president of the
51	51	21Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association or their designee; president of the Middlesex Bar
52	52	22Association or their designee; president of the Norfolk County Bar Association or their
53	53	23designee; president of the Plymouth County Bar Association or their designee; president of the
54	54	24Suffolk County Bar Association or their designee; president of the Woman’s Bar Association or
55	55	25their designee; and the president of the Worcester County Bar Association or their designee.
56	56	26 The commission shall elect from among its members a chair, a vice chair and any other
57	57	27officers it deems necessary. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
58	58	28their services, other than as may be already provided for due to their position outside the
59	59	29commission. The commission may receive such funds to carry out its mission as may be
60	60	30authorized and appropriated or donated from time to time. The commission may request from all
61	61	31state agencies such information and assistance as the commission may require, which shall be
62	62	32provided as promptly as is reasonably practicable. The commission may: (i) use such voluntary
63	63	33and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and organizations as may from time 3 of 3
64	64	34to time be offered and needed; (ii) hold regular, public meetings and fact-finding hearings and
65	65	35other public forums as it may consider necessary. The commission shall convene its first meeting
66	66	36within one month of appointment and shall submit its first report of recommendations not later
67	67	37than December 1, 2021 to the clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate who shall
68	68	38forward a copy of the report to the House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on the
69	69	39Judiciary.